Turnpiece for door locks



April 24, 1956 A. ALEXANDER TURNPIECE FOR DOOR LOCKS Filed Aug. 25, 1953IN VEN TOR. @0200 f7. 1% [Xi/IDEA fill/1171171777" United States Patent2,743,123 TURNPIECE FOR noon LOCKS Gordon A. Alexander, Newington,Conn., assignor to The American Hardware Corporation, New Britain,Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 25, 1953, SerialNo. 376,400

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-1) This invention relates to a turnpiece for doorlocks and more particularly for door locks of the cylindrical type suchas fully shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,724,607 ofLeland H. Fisler, issued November 22, 1955.

Such turnpieces are commonly contained in the inner knob spindle of thedoor lock and project therefrom through an opening in the inner knob andare utilized to move the dogging member in said lock into doggingengagement with other elements of the lock mechanism to prevent rotationof the outer knob. In order to dog the outer knob, it is usuallynecessary to manually push the turnpiece inwardly into the inner knobspindle and rotate it into engagement with the means provided in theinner spindle for securing the said turnpiece in its inward position.Such securing means usually include a bayonet slot in the knob spindlehaving a detent portion into which a projection on the turnpiece ismoved by rotating the turnpiece after it has been pushed into its inwardposition; the said projection being held in the detent portion by meansof a compression spring which is disposed between the turnpiece and astationary element in the spindle and biases the said turnpiece and thedogging member, which is connected thereto, outwardly relatively to theinner knob and into its normal position. The force applied by the saidspring member is necessarily light since it is important that the leastpossible resistance be applied to the movement of the turnpiece, when itis forced inwardly, in order to facilitate its operation.

It has been found that due to the light pressure which is appliedagainst the turnpiece by said spring when said turnpiece is in lockedposition, it is possible, by repeatedly hitting the outer knob with thepahn of the hand or with some tool, to cause'the projection to becomedisengaged from the detent portion of the bayonet slot and the turnpieceto be returned to its normal position thereby undogging the lockmechanism. This occurs because the turnpiece is rotated after it hasbeen forced inwardly into the inner knob against the said spring,thereby winding the spring to such a degree that it then exerts a torqueon the turnpiece which tends to rotate it in the opposite direction.Such rotation is prevented while the projection on the turnpiece is inengagement with the detent portion of the bayonet slot, but upon hittingthe outside knob, the inner spindle moves longitudinally while theinertia of the turnpiece and the parts connected thereto cause it toremain stationary relatively to the spindle. Such relative movement cancause the projection to become disengaged from the detent portion andthe stored tension in the spring will then rotate the turnpiece andpermit it to be returned to its normal position.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide highlyefiicient means for preventing disengagement of the projection from thedetent portion of the bayonet slot without increasing the resistancepresented by the spring to the inward movement of the turnpiece.

A further object of this invention is to provide such means which willprevent relative movement between the 2,743,123 Patented Apr. 24, 1956turnpiece and the spindle, that is caused by the inertia of theturnpiece, so as to prevent disengagement of said projection from saiddetent portion.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view showing the inner spindle assembly and its relatedknob, turnpiece and spring, with the knob being shown partly in centralvertical section..

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the assembly partly in central verticalsection.

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inside end portion of said assembly showingthe turnpiece in its locking position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an exploded isometric view of the parts included in theturnpiece.

As shown in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the inner spindle of acylindrical door lock, such as fully shown and described in the abovementioned patent, to which there is connected an inner knob 6 having ashank 7 that fits over the spindle 5 and is secured thereto by means ofa retainer 8.

A turnpiece 9 is provided with an outer element 9-a which is slidable inthe end portion of the spindle 5 and projects outwardly therefromthrough an axial opening in the outside wall of the knob 6. The saidturnpiece further has a cup-shaped member 10 that fits within anenlarged portion 11 of the element 9-a and is secured therein by meansof prongs 12 which are bent inwardly from said enlarged portion over theedge of the cupshaped member.

A dogging bar 13 is loosely secured to the said cupshaped member and aspring 14 surrounds said bar and urges it and the turnpiece into theirnormal positions, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the said turnpieceextends outwardly from the knob 6 and the bar is in undogged position.When the turnpiece and bar are in said normal position, the lockmechanism is in unlocked condition so that it can be operated to retractthe bolt thereof. by rotation of the outside knob.

The wall of the spindle 5 contains a bayonet slot 15 of conventionalform which is provided with a detent portion 16 and a cam portion 17extending from the said detent portion.

The cup-shaped member 10 has lateral projections 18 and 19 which extendlaterally therefrom and fit between each pair of prongs 12-12 of theelement 9-a so as to secure the said member 10 against rotationrelatively thereto. The projection 19 extends beyond the periphery ofthe element 9-a into the bayonet slot 15 and, when the said turnpiece isforced inwardly against the force of the spring 14 and rotated, it willenter the detent portion 16 of the said slot and retain the bar 13 inits dogging position and the turnpiece in its inward position. Thespring 14 will then bias the said projection 19 into contact with theouter side of the detent portion 16 of the slot 15 and the lug 16-aadjacent said portion will prevent unintentional or accidental movementof the said projection out of the detent portion 16 so that an inwardpush of the turnpiece is required to move the projection 19 over the lug16-a before the said turnpiece can be rotated to permit the spring 14 toreturn the turnpiece to its normal position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2,wherein the lock mechanism is in its unlocked condition.

When the lock mechanism is dogged to prevent rotation of the outer knob,it will be understood that the turnpiece 9 is pushed inwardly againstthe tension of the spring 14 and then rotated to bring the retainingprojection 19 over the lug and intothe detent portion 16. Such rotationof the turnpiece 9 will cause the spring 14 to be slightly wound and,therefore, to exert a torque which "tends to rotate the turnpicc'e in acontraclockwise direction, but the lug 16% will then engage theprojection 19 and prevent rotation of the turnpiece.

As above stated, it has been found that by repeatedly hitting the outerknob in an inward direction the spindle S is moved inwardly relativelyto the turnpiece which remains stationary due to its inertia. This willcause inward movement of the lug'16'a past the projection 19 which willthen be ermitted to escape from the detent portion of the bayonet slot.The torque exerted by the spring will then cause rotation of theturnpiece and complete removal of the said projection from the detentportion, whereupon the spring '14 will cause the tumpiece and thedogging bar '13 to be moved outwardl to their normal positions and thelock mechanism 'to become 'undo'g'ged and returned to its -unlockedcondition.

In order to revent the unauthorized disengagement of the projection 19from the detent portion 16 by unauthorized persons attempting to openthe lock by hitting the outside knob as above described, I haveprovided, by my invention, a spring member 20 having a base portion 21,which is adapted to fit into the member 10, and a pair of oppositelyextending spring fingers 22 and 23 which project from the opposite sidesof the said base portion 21 and normally rest in front of theprojections 18 and 19. The base portion 21 of said spring membercontains an axially disposed circular opening 21- 1 which is alignedwith a circular opening lit-a in the wall of the cup-shaped member 10.The outer end of the dogging bar has a stem 13-0 of reduced Widthprojecting therefrom to provide outwardly facing shoulders 13b13b onsaid bar. Said stem projects through the openings 21-0 and -a and isswaged over the outer side of the cup-shaped member to thereby looselysecure the turnpiece to the bar. The spring 20 is confined between thewall of the cup-shaped member and shoulders 13-b- 13-b on the doggingbar and is thus retained within the turnpiece. The finger 22 is shorterthan the finger 23 so that it does not extend beyond the periphery ofthe element 9-a but will extend over the projection 18 and between theprongs 12*12 so as to prevent the said spring member 20 from rotating inthe turnpiece. The finger 23 extends over and is spaced from theprojection 19 and, being longer, extends into the bayonet slot fromwithin the spindle 5.

When the turnpiece of my improved construction is moved into doggingposition as above described, the spring finger 23 will engage theabutment edge 24 of the bayonet slot and thereby provide a spring forceagainst the turnpiece which will supplement the force applied by thespring 14 to retain the projection 19 in the detent portion 16 andprevent said projection from becoming disengaged therefrom accidentallyor when the outer knob is bit.

It will be understood that the supplemental spring force provided by thespring finger 23 is applied only against a small portion of the inwardmovement of the turnpiece so that the operation of moving said turnpieceinwardly of the inner knob will not be undesirably stiffened byexcessive spring pressure while disengagement of said projection fromthe hook portion 15 by such unauthorized means as above described willbe prevented.

I claim:

1. In a door lock including a tubular spindle, a dogging plungerslidably positioned in said spindle, main spring means normally urgingsaid plunger outwardly relatively to the spindle, interlocking means onsaid spindle and said plunger brought into engagement by. depression ofsaid plunger for holding said plunger in depressed position against theforce of said main spring means, said interlocking means when engagedbeing biased into locking engagement by spring pressure on the plungeroutwardly of said spindle; auxiliary spring means and abutment meanspositioned to be engaged by said auxiliary spring means upon depressionof said plunger, the distance between said auxiliary spring means andsaid abutment means when said plunger is in released outward positionbeing slightly less than the length of the axial travel path of saidplunger, whereby upon depression of said plunger said auxiliary springmeans will be stressed just before said plunger reaches the inner limitof its travel, the said auxiliary spring means thereby applying force inaddition to the main spring force against said plunger when it is infully depressed position to urge said interlocking means into tighterengagement.

2. In a door lock including a tubular spindle, a turnpiece slidable androtatable in said spindle, main spring means normally urging saidturnpiece outwardly relatively to the spindle, and interlocking means onsaid spindle and said turnpiece brought into engagement by depressionand rotation of said turnpiece for retaining the turnpiece in depressedposition against the force of said main spring means, said interlockingmeans when engaged being biased into locking engagement by springpressure on the plunger outwardly of said spindle; normally unstressedauxiliary spring means and abutment means positioned to be engaged bysaid auxiliary spring means upon depression of said turnpiece, thedistance between said auxiliary spring means and said abutment meanswhen said tumpiece is in released outward position being slightly lessthan the length of the axial travel path of said turnpiece, whereby upondepression of said turnpiece said auxiliary spring means will bestressed just before said turnpiece reaches the inner limit of itstravel, the said auxiliary spring means thereby applying force inaddition to the main spring force against said turnpiece when it is infully depressed position to urge said interlocking means into tighterengagement.

3. In a door lock including a tubular spindle, a turnpiece slidable androtatable in said spindle, main spring means normally urging saidturnpiece outwardly relatively to said spindle, and interlocking meanson said spindle and said turnpiece brought into engagement by depressionand rotation of said turnpiece for retaining the turnpiece in depressedposition against the force of said main spring means, said interlockingmeans when engaged being biased into locking engagement by springpressure on the plunger outwardly of said spindle; an auxiliary springon said turnpiece projecting beyond the inner end thereof, and abutmentmeans in said spindle, the distance between said abutment means and saidauxiliary spring when said turnpiece is in released outward positionbeing slightly; less than the length of the axial travel path of saidturnpiece, whereby upon depression of said turnpiece said auxiliaryspring will be stressed just before said turnpiec'e reaches the innerlimit of its travel, the said auxiliary spring means thereby applyingforce in addition to the main spring force against said turnpiece tourge said interlocking means into tighter engagement.

4. In a door lock including a tubular spindle having a bayonet slottherein provided with a detent portion, a turnpi'ece slidable androtatable insaid spindle and having aprojection thereon movable in saidbayonet slot and into said detent portion to retain the turnpiece indepressed position, and main spring means normally urging said turnpieceoutwardly relatively to the spindle; an auxiliary spring member on saidturnpiece positioned to engage and be stressed by a portion of saidspindle upon depression of said turnpiece, the distance between theengaged portion of said spindle and the auxiliary spring member whensaid turnpiece is in released outward position being slightly less thanthe length of the axial travel path of said turnpiece, whereby upondepression of said turnpiece said auxiliary spring member will bestressed just before said turnpiece reaches the inner limit of it'stravel, the said auxiliary spring member thereby applying force inaddition to the main spring force against said turnpiece when it is infully depressed position to urge said projection into tighter engagementwith said detent.

5. In a door lock including a tubular spindle having a bayonet slottherein provided with a detent'portion, a turnpiece slidable androtatable in said spindle and having a projection thereon movable insaid slot and into said detent portion to retain the turnpiece indepressed position, and a main spring normally urging said tumpieceoutwardly relatively to said spindle; an auxiliary member carried bysaid turnpiece including a spring finger which is disposed over andforwardly of said projection, the distance between said spring fingerand the inner end of said slot when said turnpiece is in releasedoutward position being slightly less than the length of the axial travelpath of said turnpiece, whereby upon depression of said turnpiece saidauxiliary spring will be stressed just before'said turnpiece reaches theinner limit of its travel, the said auxiliary member thereby applyingforce in addition to the main spring force against said turnpiece whenit is in fully depressed position to urge said projection into fighterengagement with said wen portion.

6. In a door lock including a tubular spindle having a bayonet slottherein provided with a detent portion, a

turnpiece slidable and rotatable in said spindle having a recess in itsinner end portion and a projection thereon extending into said slot, anda main spring normally urging the turnpiece outwardly relatively to thespindle; an auxiliary spring member comprising a base portion which issupported in the recess in said turnpiece and has a forwardly extendingfinger thereon, the free end of said finger extending over saidprojection, the distance between said finger and the inner end of saidslot when said turnpiece is in released outward position being slightlyless than the length of the axial travel path of said turnpiece, wherebyupon depression of said turnpiece said auxiliary spring member will bestressed just before said turnpiece reaches the inner limit of itstravel, the spring member thereby applying force in addition to the mainspring force against the turnpiece when it is in fully depressedposition to urge said projection into tighter engagement with saiddetent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

